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05-30-2021, 10:20 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Black Forest
Posts: 102
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Fridge Issue
Hi all been a while, had to do a year off due to medical. In that time the unit sat in "dry dock" so to speak.. I'm now getting it out & doing all the pre trip checks. I'm working on my 2016, 26RLS. Has a Dometic Mod#DM2852LBX Fridge. Issue is fridge works fine on electric "shore power" cools down coils in back get worm - hot so to speak but not on propane. Propane comes on I can see flame by removing the shield, I did check the 2 glass fuses in the controller and there good. I located the resettable safety on the flue & it's good as will. I adjusted the temp controller inside the fridge & no change with the flame whatsoever. At this point I'm leaning towards the control board. Any input from you all is always appreciated.
Thanks all,
Bingo
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05-30-2021, 01:00 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Wickenburg
Posts: 3,314
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Propane comes on? I assume it stays on, since you didn't say otherwise? If the propane is heating the element, and the fridge is still not cooling, I'm not sure how that could be the board. This is an absorption fridge, so I can't imagine how the fluid would be responding to the electric heater, but not the propane heater.
__________________
2019 Cougar 26RBSWE
2019 Ford F-250
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05-30-2021, 01:53 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Black Forest
Posts: 102
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Fridge
Thank you for the response, yes the fuel stays on & the flame going. But the flame does not increase under demand? And the fridge didn't cool down after 18 hours.
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05-30-2021, 02:14 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Wickenburg
Posts: 3,314
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Yeah, I was wrong. The flame doesn't ignite on demand, it stays on pilot and increases on demand. So that could very well be either the board or the valve.
__________________
2019 Cougar 26RBSWE
2019 Ford F-250
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05-30-2021, 02:59 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Black Forest
Posts: 102
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Fridge
I kinda figured if the valve was opening for the pilot, then it wasn't getting the signal from the controller to increase fuel flow. Would that be a rational line of thinking?
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05-30-2021, 05:56 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,997
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It sounds like there's an obstruction in the chimney. If you look at your IPB (parts diagram) you'll see a "twisted baffle" in the chimney. That "circulates the hot air produced by the propane flame so it better contacts the sides of the chimney, heating the "refrigerator boiler"... If there is a spider web or a "rats nest" higher up in the chimney, you won't get good heat flow with propane, but the electric could (not always, but often) work as designed while propane won't heat the ammonia solution.
You might want to verify that the chimney is clear from bottom to top...
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John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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05-31-2021, 05:42 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Indiana
Posts: 2,719
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Many year ago, on a previous trailer, I had trouble with my absorption RV refrigerator. Like yours, it worked on Electric, but not on gas. I wanted it working on gas. I knew a service charge would be costly and I wasn't prepared for that.
In desperation, I went to the outside of the camper, removed the refrigerator cover and took a hammer and just hit a couple things and grabbed coils and pipes and wires and just shook the sh** out of them. My wife thought I lost my mind!
But you know what? It started working to our shock! And we never had an issue with the refrigerator again for another 7 years and we traded for a new trailer, it was still working perfect!
True story! Unbelievable!
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2019 Montana High Country 375FL
2014 Chevy Duramax HD 6.6 - 3500 Diesel Dully Long bed Crew Cab
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05-31-2021, 05:44 PM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,695
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dutchmensport
Many year ago, on a previous trailer, I had trouble with my absorption RV refrigerator. Like yours, it worked on Electric, but not on gas. I wanted it working on gas. I knew a service charge would be costly and I wasn't prepared for that.
In desperation, I went to the outside of the camper, removed the refrigerator cover and took a hammer and just hit a couple things and grabbed coils and pipes and wires and just shook the sh** out of them. My wife thought I lost my mind!
But you know what? It started working to our shock! And we never had an issue with the refrigerator again for another 7 years until we traded for a new trailer!
True story! Unbelievable!
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LOL! I've always been a believer in "if at first you don't succeed".....you need a bigger hammer!
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Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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05-31-2021, 05:56 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Black Forest
Posts: 102
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Fridge
I think that is truly going to be my next move
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05-31-2021, 07:13 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,090
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Our fridge would not work on gas, I looked and saw that the flame would light and then go out.
I used my compressor to blow out the burner and flue and it started working again... the flame was much bigger after I blew things out.
-Brian
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2014 Bullet Premier 22RBPR - let the camping commence!
2013 F150 Platinum - 5.0 - 3.55 ELD + towing package
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06-01-2021, 04:40 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mountain Home, Idaho
Posts: 3,015
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__________________
2007 GMC Classic club cab 4x4 Duramax LBZ
2014 Alpine 3010 RE. 34 foot fifth wheel
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06-06-2021, 09:55 AM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: North of Cooperstown, NY
Posts: 14
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It is not uncommon in my area for the gas orifice to get a layer of oxidation in it and it cuts the flow of gas down, the correct way to clean it is soak in isoprople alcohol and then blow it out with air. This has been the cure for many campers in my area where the symptoms were the same as yours, yes you have flame but not enough flame.
Clean the orifice and the flame will be hotter!
__________________
Remember Lavoy!
2008 31 RLDS
1990 Dodge D350, I6 engine, basically stock, well basically.
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06-06-2021, 10:10 AM
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#13
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,997
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyboyD8
It is not uncommon in my area for the gas orifice to get a layer of oxidation in it and it cuts the flow of gas down, the correct way to clean it is soak in isoprople alcohol and then blow it out with air. This has been the cure for many campers in my area where the symptoms were the same as yours, yes you have flame but not enough flame.
Clean the orifice and the flame will be hotter!
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Good advice by FlybouyD8.
A caution !!! Do NOT push anything, not even a "brush bristle" down the orifice. There is a "micro-drilled ruby jet" that you'll destroy if you try to clean it "physically"... Just use alcohol, let it soak and blow it out with "minimal compressed air"... This is one place where "more muscle" is going to destroy all efforts to fix the problem......
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John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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06-06-2021, 10:12 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Coaldale (Southern Alberta)
Posts: 176
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Check the solenoid on the gas valve, it might be sticking or not opening all the way. I just replaced a gas valve on my hot water tank on a 2-1/2 year old 5ver. 1 of the 2 solenoids was stuck and wouldn't open so no gas. It took a while and trial and error to figure that one out. I did take the valve solenoids apart and bench tested after cleaning and they worked like new, so I guess I have a spare now. Good luck!
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& Jim & Tovi
2019 Cougar 315RLS w/ Reese Sidewinder pin box
2011 Ram Larime CC 3500 SB 4x4 w/ Reese 5th wheel hitch
Retired-Lovin' 7 Saturdays a week!!
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06-06-2021, 01:06 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Black Forest
Posts: 102
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Thanks all for the valuable input! I did "soak" this figuring Id do more damage than good if I tried to push something down that orifice. I've got a new assy on its way in & will do a follow up posting of course.
Bingo
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06-06-2021, 01:57 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Upper Chesapeake Bay
Posts: 4,840
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bingo 57
Thanks all for the valuable input! I did "soak" this figuring Id do more damage than good if I tried to push something down that orifice. I've got a new assy on its way in & will do a follow up posting of course.
Bingo
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Yup I have a pilot orifice drill set and let me tell you it is a micro difference between orifice sizes.. if you try to ream it out you may end up two or three sizes over the spec and have way too much of a flame. Doesn’t take much
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2020 Cougar 315 RLS
2020 Ram 3500 6.7HO 4.10 Dually Aisin
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06-10-2021, 04:57 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Black Forest
Posts: 102
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Fridge
OK so the promised up-date.. New burner assy just installed, Happy dance was performed shortly there after! Had I not had the pic's provided in this foram I wouldn't have known what to look for. Thanks to all for the valuable input / insight & those pictures. Safe travels to all!
Bingo
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06-10-2021, 06:51 PM
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#18
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,997
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That's great news !!! Now, keep your adult beverages cool and enjoy the rest of the camping season.....
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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06-21-2021, 05:40 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Black Forest
Posts: 102
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Fridge
Just got back from 4 days 5 nights in the grate outdoors "boondocking" & not a skip with the fridge! Kept the adult beverages just right! Again thank for all the help here!
Bingo
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